Blind / Vision Impairment

If you have trouble seeing or are considered to be legally blind, you may be eligible for social security disability (SSD) benefits. Legally blind is referred to as the lack of ability to have a corrected vision better than 20/200 in the better of your two eyes. Alternatively, when your vision field is less than or equal to 20 degrees in the better eye, you are considered to be legally blind. However, the social security administration still approves SSD benefits even if you are not legally blind. But to recover your claim, you need to establish the fact that your vision impairment when compared to other medical problems has or is expected to obstruct your daily living activities.

Levels of vision impairment

As per medical valuation, eyesight can either be severely limited or legally blind. When vision in your better eye cannot go higher than 20/200 even after correction, you are legally blind. Impaired vision does not prevent an individual from taking up employment. There are several careers he can still prosper in but vision impairment becomes a disability by interfering with the ability for you to perform work resulting in gainful or monetary activity.

Qualifying criteria for blind people

In order to become eligible for SSD benefits, you have to meet one of the following criteria

(1)  Disability freeze: As a special rule called as disability freeze, if you are legally blind; you can work and still be eligible for SSD benefits. Your benefits in this case will be higher because SSD retirement benefits are calculated on your lifetime earnings on an average.

(2)  You can receive benefits while you work. In these situations, social security administration makes use of work incentives. In the year 2008, blind beneficiaries can make up to $1570 every month and still continue to receive SSD benefits. These ceiling amounts change every year keeping pace with the increasing cost of living.

(3)  For beneficiaries who are older than 55: Blind beneficiaries, who are over 55 years and can work, receive a different treatment when compared to other disabled beneficiaries who are not blind. When your work demands a lower level of ability and skill than work before the age of 55 and when per month income goes above $1570, your cash benefits remain suspended but certainly not terminated. When income levels drop, payments will begin to resume.

Disability claim filing

For filing any kind of disability claim through social security administration (SSA), an application for benefits should be filled out either online or from your local SSA office. All detailed and specific conditions relating to your disability must be filled. Unless you requested an expedited claim, you may have to wait for at least three or four months for SSA to start processing your application.

Having expert and successful disability attorneys to represent you makes your social security disability claim go through successfully in the process of appeals. With several layers in the appeals process, an experienced attorney can assess your case properly and offer suitable guidance.